Solvang — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Solvang’s zoning regulations are Title 11 of the Solvang Municipal Code and establish the city’s map of zones, the allowable land uses in each zone, and the site/development standards that apply. The official zoning map is adopted by reference and maintained by the planning manager; where a boundary is unclear the code tells you how it is resolved. Key procedural controls include zoning clearance, development permits, and conditional use permits for higher‑impact uses. See the official adoption and map rules in § 11-1-2 and the zones table in § 11-4-2.

How Solvang’s Zoning is organized (short)

• Zones are established in Table 11.1 and shown on the adopted zoning map (§ 11-4-2 / § 11-1-2) — the list includes residential, commercial, industrial, public/open space, and overlay zones.
• Uses allowed in each zone are listed in the Tables for each chapter (for example, residential uses are in Table 11.4; see § 11-6-3) and may be “P” (permitted) or “CUP” (conditional use permit required).
• Development standards (setbacks, height, lot size, lot coverage, landscaping) are given by zone (see Table 11-5 / § 11-6-4 for residential standards).

Important related topics you may need while planning a project (first mention of each is linked): the city’s Development Standards, parking rules, design review requirements, overlay rules in Overlay Districts, Historic Preservation considerations (applies in the village), rules on signage, and ADUs. The state building code is the California Building Standards Code.

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the practical, code‑based summaries for each district established in Table 11.1 and related chapters. Each district heading names the official zone symbol in bold, then gives the purpose, typical permitted uses, key dimensional standards, and where that district is applied per the code excerpts retrieved. Verify particulars for any parcel: "Verify with the jurisdiction."

Notes on citations: where the text below summarizes a code requirement I cite the controlling code section (for example § 11-6-4 for residential development standards). All citations are to the Solvang Zoning Code retrieved.

ER-3 (Estate Residential)

• Purpose: Large-lot estate residential development; implements Estate Residential General Plan designation. § 11-4-2.
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family dwellings, accessory structures, accessory dwelling units (ADUs — see § 11-12-2 referenced in the residential use table). § 11-6-3.
• Key dimensional standards (Table 11-5 / § 11-6-4): Front setback 25', side 10', rear 25', max height 25', lot size minimum 3 acres, lot coverage max 30%.
• Where it applies: shown on the adopted zoning map; boundary rules in § 11-1-2.

ER-1 (Estate Residential — smaller)

• Purpose: Implements Low Density Residential policies for larger single-family parcels. § 11-4-2.
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family and accessory uses; ADUs permitted. § 11-6-3.
• Key standards (Table 11-5): Front 25', side 10', rear 25', max height 25', min lot 1 acre, lot coverage 30%.

R-1 (Residential Low Density)

• Purpose: Low/medium density single-family neighborhoods. § 11-4-2.
• Typical uses: Single-family homes, ADUs, accessory structures, home occupations (see Table 11.4). § 11-6-3.
• Key standards (Table 11-5): Front 20', side 10', street side 15', rear 10', max height 25', min lot 20,000 sq ft, lot coverage 30%. § 11-6-4.

PR (Planned Residential)

• Purpose: Medium density residential allowing planned developments and flexible site design. § 11-4-2 / Chapter 6 references.
• Typical uses: Medium-density single- and multi-family developments; accessory uses; subject to planned residential standards and possibly a Development Permit. § 11-6-3 & § 11-16-5.
• Key standards (Table 11-5): Front 20', side 5', rear 10', max height 25', lot coverage 50%, min lot 10,000 sq ft.

R-2 (Residential Medium Density)

• Purpose: Multi-family and infill at moderate density. § 11-4-2.
• Typical uses: Attached multi-unit dwellings, ADUs, childcare facilities, group homes; some non‑residential uses may be allowed per Table 11.4. § 11-6-3.
• Key standards (Table 11-5): Front 15', side 5', rear 5', max height 35', lot coverage 60%, min lot 6,000 sq ft, minimum density 3 du/acre and typical maximum 8 du/acre (with housing element sites possibly up to 20 du/acre per note).

R-3 (Residential High Density)

• Purpose: Higher-density multi-family housing; 8–20 du/acre typical. § 11-4-2; R-3 purpose text.
• Typical uses: Multi-unit attached dwellings, residential care facilities, ADUs as allowed. § 11-6-3.
• Key standards (Table 11-5): Front 10', side 5', rear 5', max height 35', lot coverage 60%, min lot 2,178 sq ft, density 8–20 du/acre (Housing Element sites may be required at 20 du/acre).

MHR (Mobile Home Park)

• Purpose: Sites for mobile home park development at low density, regulated separately. § 11-4-2 / § 11-6-3.
• Typical uses: Mobile home parks (CUP required for new parks per Table notes) and mobile homes on lots.
• Key standards (Table 11-5): Front 15', side 5', rear 10', max height 25', lot coverage 60%, min lot 4,000 sq ft.

VMU (Village Mixed‑Use)

• Purpose: Implements the General Plan “Tourist Commercial / Village” mixed‑use policies for the Solvang village area. § 11-4-2.
• Typical permitted uses: Mixed‑use commercial/residential; exact allowed uses and permit requirements are listed in the commercial tables (not fully reproduced in retrieved snippets). See the allowable uses article and Table(s) for commercial zones; uses may be P or CUP. § 11-4-4.
• Key standards: Not fully reproduced in retrieved materials — verify with the city and see the Development Standards. Verify with the jurisdiction.

CR (Retail Commercial) and CH (Heavy Commercial)

• Purpose: CR for retail/commercial core uses; CH for broader general commercial/ heavier commercial activity. § 11-4-2.
• Typical uses: Retail, restaurants, visitor services, offices (detailed allowed uses are in the commercial use tables — see § 11-4-4).
• Key standards: Commercial development standards are established in the non‑residential chapters (not fully reproduced). Verify setbacks/height/lot coverage in the appropriate chapter and the Design Review rules for the village overlay. Not found in retrieved materials for full commercial table — Verify with the jurisdiction.

PO (Professional Office)

• Purpose: Office and low‑impact professional services. § 11-4-2.
• Typical uses: Professional offices, clinics, supportive services; check Table(s) for permit status. § 11-4-4.
• Key standards: Not reproduced in the retrieved snippets; verify with city records.

LI (Light Industrial)

• Purpose: Light industrial uses (manufacturing, service industrial) consistent with General Plan. § 11-4-2.
• Typical uses & standards: See non‑residential use tables and development standards (not fully included in retrieved materials). Verify with the jurisdiction.

P (Parks) and OS (Open Space)

• Purpose: Public parks, open space, recreation. § 11-4-2 / Chapter 9.
• Typical uses: Parks, playgrounds, public trails, community gardens; some uses require CUP (e.g., golf course). § 11-9-2 / Table 11.10.
• Key standards: Park/open space development standards are set by the review authority during project review. § 11-9-3.

AT (Agriculture Tourist)

• Purpose: Agricultural tourism and guest ranches tied to ag uses. § 11-4-2 / Table 11.3.
• Typical uses: Guest ranch, agritourism, related lodging (CUP for some uses). § 11-5-3 / Table 11.3.
• Key standards (Table 11.3 / § 11-5-3): Front 25', side 20', rear 50', max height 35', max FAR 0.35, min lot 5 gross acres, max density 10 du/acre (residential).

PI (Public/Institutional)

• Purpose: Public and quasi‑public facilities (schools, government buildings, etc.). § 11-4-2.
• Typical uses: Public buildings, institutional uses; development standards determined by review authority during application review. § 11-17 / chapter references.

Overlays — PD, SP-2, DD-1 (Village Design District), DD-2 (Mission Design District)

• Purpose: Overlay zones modify or add standards for designated areas. The Design District overlays (the Village Design District – DD-1 and Mission Design District – DD-2) implement design objectives (Old World Danish aesthetic in village, Spanish Colonial / mission area) and impose additional design review and objective design standards. § 11-10A-1 through § 11-10A-7.
• Typical effects: Additional permit triggers (design review), objective façade/site standards, mixed‑use allowances (when allowed by underlying zone), and exceptions procedures (Modification to Standards). § 11-10A-4 – § 11-10A-9.
• Where applied: Boundaries are shown on the zoning map and may be adopted/modified by council per § 11-10A-3 and § 11-1-2.

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant standards and permit triggers

If you need the full commercial or industrial development standards or the complete permitted‑uses table for a non‑residential district, those tables were not reproduced in the retrieved snippets — Verify with the jurisdiction and see the full chapter tables referenced in § 11-4-4.

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy for most projects

• Confirm the parcel’s official zone on the adopted zoning map and boundary rules in § 11-1-2 (zoning map is maintained by the planning manager).
• Confirm the use is listed as P or CUP in the appropriate Table (residential Table 11.4 § 11-6-3; other zones per chapters 5–9) and determine required permit type (§ 11-4-4).
• Check applicable development standards (setbacks, height, lot coverage, landscaping) in the zone’s development standards tables (for residential see Table 11-5 / § 11-6-4).
• Determine whether a zoning clearance (§ 11-16-4), development permit (§ 11-16-5), or conditional use permit (§ 11-16-6) is required and prepare the entitlement application.
• If inside a Design District overlay (DD-1 or DD-2), expect additional design review, objective design standards, and possibly a Modification to Standards procedure per § 11-10A-7 and § 11-10A-9.
• Confirm parking requirements and landscape/screening standards and include them in plans (see parking and Landscaping and Screening pages).
• For building work, file building permits separately and follow the California Building Standards Code.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Solvang’s zoning code (Title 11) divides the city into named zones (for example R-1, R-2, R-3, VMU, AT, PI) and overlays (for example DD-1, DD-2, PD). Your parcel’s zone controls what you can build and how (setbacks, height, lot size, lot coverage), whether you need a zoning clearance, development permit, or CUP, and whether extra village design rules apply — all as set out in the zoning tables and map. Always confirm the parcel’s official zone on the adopted zoning map and which specific table and section applies to your proposed use.

Information Gaps

• Full commercial and industrial permitted‑use tables and non‑residential development standard tables were not fully reproduced in the retrieved materials (the code references them but the full tables are absent in the snippets). Not found in retrieved materials.
• Exact boundaries for overlays and parcel‑level overlay applicability require the official digital/paper zoning map on file with the planning manager — the code directs where the map is kept but the map itself is not in the retrieved text. § 11-1-2.

Source References

• Title 11 — Zoning Regulations, City of Solvang Municipal Code: § 11-1-1 through Title 11 chapters (adoption and map rules) — see § 11-1-2 for the zoning map and maintenance.
• Zones established and Table 11.1 (list of zone symbols / names): § 11-4-2 and Table 11.1.
• Allowable uses and permit requirements: § 11-4-4 and Table references for Chapters 5–9.
• Residential allowable uses and permit table (Table 11.4) and residential use details: § 11-6-3.
• Residential development standards (Table 11-5 — setbacks, height, lot size, lot coverage): § 11-6-4.
• Agriculture Tourist zone standards (Table 11.3): § 11-5-3.
• Design District Overlays (DD-1, DD-2) and design standards / applicability: § 11-10A-1 through § 11-10A-9.
• Zoning clearance, development permit, CUP procedures, variances and modifications: § 11-16-4, § 11-16-5, § 11-16-6, § 11-16-7.

Retrieved passages

• Solvang Zoning Code (§ 11-4-1.) High relevance show source text
• Solvang Zoning Code (§ 11-10A-3.) High relevance show source text
• Solvang Zoning Code (Title 11.) High relevance show source text
• Solvang Zoning Code (Chapter 2.) High relevance show source text
• Solvang Zoning Code (§ 11-9-3.) High relevance show source text
• Solvang Zoning Code (§ 11-4-3.) High relevance show source text
• Solvang Zoning Code (§ 11-6-3.) Medium relevance show source text
• Solvang Zoning Code (§ 11-16-5.) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Title 11 — Zoning Regulations, City of Solvang Municipal Code: **§ 11-1-1** through Title 11 chapters (adoption and map rules) — see **§ 11-1-2** for the zoning map and maintenance. (Title 11)
• Zones established and Table 11.1 (list of zone symbols / names): **§ 11-4-2** and Table 11.1. (§ 11-4-2)
• Allowable uses and permit requirements: **§ 11-4-4** and Table references for Chapters 5–9. (§ 11-4-4)
• Residential allowable uses and permit table (Table 11.4) and residential use details: **§ 11-6-3**. (§ 11-6-3)
• Residential development standards (Table 11-5 — setbacks, height, lot size, lot coverage): **§ 11-6-4**. (§ 11-6-4)
• Agriculture Tourist zone standards (Table 11.3): **§ 11-5-3**. (§ 11-5-3)
• Design District Overlays (DD-1, DD-2) and design standards / applicability: **§ 11-10A-1** through **§ 11-10A-9**. fileciteturn0file4turn0file1 (§ 11-10A-1)
• Zoning clearance, development permit, CUP procedures, variances and modifications: **§ 11-16-4**, **§ 11-16-5**, **§ 11-16-6**, **§ 11-16-7**. fileciteturn0file11turn0file7turn0file12 (§ 11-16-4)
• Solvang_ZoningCode.md

• Official Solvang code library